Today, the term is more generally applied worldwide to around a dozen warm coastal regions popular with tourists. Mexico has been blessed with two of these regions, the Riviera Maya and Riviera Maya.
The Riviera Maya is composed of 80 miles from the Caribbean coast of wrapping along the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Includes resort towns of Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum. This region is an excellent area to visit with its warm climate, beaches, archaeological sites and historical sites, but may be a different matter when it comes to retirement. The average daily temperature for the “high season” from November to May along the Riviera Maya is 77 ° F, however you can expect an average monthly rainfall during this season of more than 3 inches. Also, the Yucatan area is threatened by hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, with almost every year in Playa del Carmen and Chetumal are virtually eliminated a few years ago and devastated Cancun in 2005. The topography of the entire Yucatan peninsula is essentially flat with height variations of less than 500 feet if not scenic mountain retirement communities. This flat on the results of the water and beautiful beaches that attract the younger generation for spring break vacations and other holidays with a very active nightlife.
The Riviera Maya is composed of more than 1000 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline on the west side of Mexico extends from Ensenada in Baja California to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca. With the Sierra Madre running virtually the entire distance, this coastline has to be considered one of the most spectacular in the world. First known as the Riviera Maya for the cruise industry, today this magnificent coastline is the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world, with nearly 300 cruises a year. The problem is that about 90% of this magnificent land is classified as ejido land and is not available for purchase by foreigners. This land was given to Mexican citizens after the Mexican Revolution to agriculture or work and have not yet been regularized or privatized. The small fraction of that land has been privatized and is in destinations around the resort along the Mexican Riviera, where foreigners can buy property and hold title as a deed with a bank of 50 years of trust . Consequently, almost all the retirement communities along the Riviera Maya is located in the cities of Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. To
retirement account, let’s take a closer look at the stations along the French Riviera.
Located just 70 miles south of U.S. border, Ensenada, known as the “Cinderella of the Pacific”, is very convenient drive from most cities in the western U.S. and really not far from western Canada. Ensenada has a population of 450,000 inhabitants of whom about 20,000 are retirees from North America. With good weather and rolling hills, the area of education has become a country of world-class wine. Along with the wine industry, Ensenada has a thriving fishing industry, agricultural business, a major mining gravel, six major parks maquiladoras, and of course tourism. The only deep water port in Baja California in Ensenada and is therefore the global shipping of products made in the area is another major source of income. The greatest area of Ensenada is very large and mostly flat with mountains in the general fund, which surround the city. Therefore, most retirees live in communities that lack of views or the slopes are in beachfront condominiums. Because the region is more than the tourism industry based on the cost of living is very attractive in the Ensenada area.
Mazatlan, the “Pearl of the Pacific”, has 500,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest working ports in Mexico. Fishing, farming, cotton spinning and weaving textiles, sugar refining, brewing, coffee roasting plants, etc. are in Mazatlan. Approximately 300 miles south of Manzanillo Mazatlan is the “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Is substantially lower than other industrial cities in the west coast of Mexico, but Mexico has become the port with a huge volume of containerized goods. Mazatlan and Manzanillo, both rely heavily on industry and much less on tourism. The two industrial cities have good beaches, good weather, reasonable costs of living, and facilities that cater to tourists and retirees.
Acapulco is by far the largest city in the Riviera Maya with a population exceeding 700,000 people. Because of its easy access from Mexico City, Acapulco was the first tourist resort to be built along the Riviera Maya. This popular destination offers scenic spot, beautiful beaches, warm weather and all the amenities that any tourist who wishes. Grew so quickly that the infrastructure has not been able to manage the population, therefore, during the last decade Acapulco authorities have tried to improve the infrastructure, cleaning up the city and beaches, and return it to the state of world-class resort.
Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo (Ixtapa is actually the area where they are retired), Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are much smaller towns, each with populations of least 70,000 people, Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, and much less. These relatively new resort is built around the cities fabulous beaches with magnificent mountains that surround the field. Each has beautiful golf courses and other activities related to tourism. All have modern cruise ship terminals and “international” airports with international flights, 2-6 days. Strictly resort areas, there are virtually no other industries and therefore the majority of local citizens a degree of speaking English. Because these areas are still quite young, and use relatively small, some of the amenities that retirees are accustomed to may be insufficient. Having small communities in North America may offer benefits for some and disadvantages others. The cost of living in these relatively remote areas may be somewhat higher than in the more accessible, more developed.
The last and probably the most popular tourist destination located in the heart of the Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta is home to about 50,000 Americans. Puerto Vallarta has an easy access from Guadalajara, has about 50 international flights every day from U.S. and Canada (more than all the rest of the Riviera Maya cities combined) and has a marine terminal, which was recently updated and tripled in size to accommodate three large cruise ships simultaneously.
Puerto Vallarta is located on the coastline of 25 miles in diameter of the Bay of Banderas, which is surrounded by the mountains of Sierra Madre. There are approximately 35 miles of coastal land, much of which is very scenic hillside adjacent property that has been privatized to foreign purchases. Retirement property varies from condominium towers facing the sea to the mountain villages, all of which have panoramic views of the city, the Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre with its native flora and fauna.
This city of 350,000 inhabitants large enough to support the “big box” stores like Sam’s Club, Super Wal-Mart, Costco, Home Depot, Office Supplies, Office Max, etc, as well as many other large modern supermarkets. High-speed Internet, VoIP telephone, satellite TV and all other modern amenities are available in PV. Four new hospitals with modern sophisticated equipment and highly trained doctors are now in Vallarta as a series of modern dental clinics. The area has always had world-class sport fishing, and today the firm has 8 excellent golf courses, a new convention center, botanical gardens, new parks, and numerous places to visit. Since Vallarta only industry is tourism, communications are never an obstacle.
The cost of living in Vallarta is half of the Riviera Maya, but a fraction of that at Pebble Beach, where the landscape could be comparable, but the weather is not! Be on the same latitude as Maui, Hawaii, the average daily temperature in Vallarta during the winter months from November to May is 73 ° F with virtually no chance of rain, ie, the weather is perfect for any activity you like, and all activities imaginable is available!
As can be seen easily, there is a reason for the popularity of Puerto Vallarta, but it basically has it all! So if you arrive via one of the 300 Mexican Riviera cruise, or one of the 50 daily flights, which really should consider Puerto Vallarta in the Riviera Maya for your retirement residence. After all, is not only a short 2-4 hours away, but Riviera is probably the only ever be allowed, except perhaps his father’s old Buick!
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